Determinants of geospatial distribution of parasitaemia among patients infected with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Ondo State, Southwest, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium parasites which is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. It remains one of the most deadly diseases globally and especially in the tropical nations of the world. In the clinical setting, the level of parasitaemia is useful as one of the criteria in defining “severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria” and to monitor the effect of anti-malarial therapy. Mapping is a known vital tool in the control and elimination of malaria globally. In this study, blood samples were collected from 415 malaria infected patients in the outpatient department of 10 randomly selected government hospitals. Coordinates of the patients’ address were taken, geocoding, mapping and cartographic display were carried out. Thin and thick blood smear preparations and microscopy were conducted on the blood samples collected from outpatients attending some selected government hospitals and percentage parasitaemia were determined. Ondo North Senatorial District had the highest mean parasitaemia of 1.06% while Ondo South had the least mean parasitaemia (0.89%). The risk map revealed that majority of patients in Ondo North 26.05% (31/119) and few in Ondo Central 12.73% (21/165) senatorial district had high malaria burden with high parasitaemia (2.62 to 5.1% parasitaemia). Based on the malaria map developed, this study could be used as guide in monitoring the efficacy of antimalarial therapy and provide information for malaria control intervention in Ondo State.